Apparatus for preparing textile strands



5 Sheets- Sheet l E, J. ABBOTT Filed Feb. 8, 1930 APPARATUS FOR PREPARING TEXTILE STRANDS March 24, 1931.

'azZ, W M )vvd y rzzis Zeys- March 24, 1931. E. J. ABBOTT 1,797,393

APPARATUS FOR PREPARING TEXTILE STRANDS Filed Feb. 8, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 O Q 0 O O a deb 63 ,fzz'erfio7 Marfizi March 24, 1931. E. J. ABBOTT APPARATUS FOR PREPARING TEXTILE STfiANDS Filed Fe Q 8, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. '24, 193 1 iJ-NI EFD STA -Es:

- E AR Mum, @or "Wilmer, avriw mmsg g 1 verr1A Af 2 roeBarrime TEXTILE srmnns Application filed 'Feloruary 8, 1930.' Serial No.v 426,853.

neeessary or desirabieto handleythematerial V in-a compact self-sustaining mass adaptedto permit ;i eady- ;p'enetration or passage of reagents, lincluding'those -01 'gaS6011S OI-- flllld eharacterinto or through-themass. In my copendingapplieation Serial No; 97,588filed March 26, 1926, (Patent No. 1,746,509, Feb;

11,1980) of which the present application is a continuation i-n-pa-rt, I have disclosed a "5173 process of preparing-textilestrands and a package resulting from the praeticeof such proces's,said pakageconsisting of a strand 7 wound upon a spoolhaving heads and-a rigid (usually tubular and-perforated") barrel to form an elongate' hollow cross-wound compact and uniformly dense but porous mass, Whose constituent convolutions are laid up under such tension (andradial compression ofthe windingSmass") that each convolution tends to maintain the position in which it Was originally laid, so that the package-mot self-sustaining character andwill not slump down Whenp'la'ced on end an'dwet', forex- I ampldby'immersi-on in a dye-bath. the

'39 en'iployment of a -perforated hollow spool barrel,- ,the dye li uor, drying medium or other reagent'inay be'passed radi-allythrough the. mass, eitherinw'ardly or outwardly, so

that it is possible to treat a largelquantityhof the textile'material in an expec li tious manner and with certainty, of obtaining uniform' results. I p

I The ,present invention pertains to appara tus useful in performing the above process, and in the production of the-package above described. wiile this apparatus in its broader aspects is useful in winding textile strands, Whether spun,twi;sted, braided, ex-

truded, or otherwise prepared; I havephos'en,

herein to illustrate it as comprising-certain adj unctive features particul-arlyuse ful in the preparation of a package consisting of un-' twisted, unspun fiber inythe form of a sliver v or moving having its, constituent fibers subd stantially parallel and straight. Among. the

desirable i features or" this apparatus may: be mentioned means for 1 removably supporting ahollow core or spool 'bELII'BL SUCh'fiSEfl: dresser spool, having an external I diameter which may; it desired,' he as great as or more ,55 of the *diameter of the completed pack-age; the provision of means for applying su bsta-n t-lal-ly uniform pressure to the package during-Winding as wellas -means :for subjecting the strand-or strands to substantially uni- 6 form tension throughout "the winding operation an improved form of traverse guide which condenses 5 and 1 compacts the strand so that an un'spun, untw-isted strand may be subjected -to-heavy tension during winding; an improved traverse -'motion and means :for adjustably; varyin-g the angle; of wind, :all of which in t h'e 'more specific application of the-invention,-ar e com'binedfwith means for bringing the constituentfiloers oftfhe strand intosiihstantially parallel relation ust prior toi ts=='delivery tothe traverse guide. These and other features of improvement willlloe. more described hereinafter byreierence to :the accompanying drawings ;in,which I have illustrated one desirable embodiment of the -inyen tionby way of example and :in ithe drawings box - Fig-.7 is a'sec-tion on the axis ofthe'lcore supporting trunnions, showing a perforated hollow -c0re supported by -the trunnions;

Fig. 8 is-a diagrammatic plan view illustrating one desirablearrangement of driving 7 p connections; and v V Fig; Q is airagmentarysection on the line 99=oi F ig.-2;j

Referring to Fig. 8 there are illustrated, in diagrammatic plan view, certain driving connections of a kind commonly employed in gill box mechanism of usual type, together with certain adjunctive features pertaining parti cularly to the present improvements. Thus in Fig. 8 the numeral 1 designates a main drive shaft adapted to receive power from any suitable source and which through proper gearing transmits motion to the back shaft 2 and to the shaft change gears 3. The back drawing rolls are shown at 4, the front drawing rolls at 5, and the gill box fallers at 6, the latter being actuated in any usual manner by means not herein specifically disclosed.

Referring to Fig. 2 the machine frame supports a bracket 7 carrying a vertical board 8 having porcelain pot-eyes 9 suitably arranged to receive and to guide strands S which may be supplied from any suitable source. For convenience in description, but without intent to limit the scope of the invention, these strands S may be considered as slivers of wool or other desired material, which has not yet received any substantial twist or been subjected to a spinning operation. These strands or slivers S, after pass.- ing through the pot-eyes 9, are preferably caused to pass over the upper surface of a supporting table 10, the several slivers being arranged in closely adjacent parallel relation. In the present apparatus these slivers may be divided into two groups as indicated, for exampleat S S (Fig. 3) but any other suitable grouping of the slivers may be employed. in. accordance with the general arrangement and intended mode of operation of the machine. These groups of slivers next pass through the back draft rolls 4 and, after engagement by the fallers 6 of the gill box, are delivered to the front draft rolls 5. The driving gearing for the draft rolls and fallers may for example be such that the surface speed of the front rolls 5 is approximately six times that of the rear rolls 4, so that the sliver is drawn out and its fibers brought into approximately parallel relation. The fallers 6 preferably have a linear speed slightly greater than that of the rear'rolls 4 and the fallers thus assist in laying the fibers in parallel relation. Preferably the front upper roll 51s provided with one or more endless aprons 11 extending around a roll or rolls on an idle shaft .12, such an apron or aprons assisting the front roll in securing a proper traction upon the sliver;

In the present arrangement the machine frame supports a pair of brackets 13 (Fig. 2) which in turn carry bearings 14 providing trunnions for a pair of guide trumpets 15. Each of these trumpets is designed to receive one of the groups S or S of slivers and to deliver the slivers of such group to the winding devices as hereinafter more fully described. If but a single groupof strands .be

used, a single guide trumpet will suifice, and on the other hand if a greater number of groups of slivers be used, a correspondingly increased number of trumpets will be employed. Each guide trumpet 15 is provided (Fig. 9) with a longitudinalpassage 16 for the strand and such passage is preferably of small diameter, at its delivery end at least, so as to compress and firmly compact the constituent fibers 0f the strand as the strand is delivered to the spool. While it is not necessary to use a trumpet which oscillates or makes a part turn alternately in opposite directions, I prefer to oscillate'it, since the turning of the "trumpet tends to smooth and round the sliver and to assist in compacting it. To oscillate the trumpet, it is furnished with a pulley 18 about which is wrapped one runof an endless cord 19, which also passes around pulleys 20 (Fig. 3) mounted upon a reciprocating carriage, hereinafter described. For best results, the delivery end ofthe trumpet guide is arranged close to the nip of the winding elements, preferably at a distance therefrom less than the length of the normal vfiber of the strand being wound. With this arrangement, the strand may be wound under a tension which would break or at least weaken such untwisted material if wound according to usual methods.

A substantially horizontal rotary shaft 21.

(Figs. 1 and 3) is mounted at its opposite ends in bearingssupported by brackets 22 and 23 respectively extending laterally from opposite sides of the main frame of the machine. This shaft carries a driving drum or roll 24 preferably having a roughened or corrugated surface and which is movable axlally of the shaft 21 but is constrained to turn with the shaft by means of a suitable spline connection. At the right-hand side of the machine, as viewed in Fig. 1, the shaft 21 carries a gear 26 which is housed within a gear box 25 supported by the bracket 23. This gear 26 meshes with a change gear 27 carried by an adjustable bracket, and the gear 27 meshes with a gear 28 secured to the end of the shaft 5 which carries the bottom roll 5.

A fixed guide bar 29 parallel to the shaft 21 is secured at its opposite ends in the brackets 22 and 23, and this bar and the shaft 21 form supports for the reciprocating carriage 30. This carriage is provided with end frame members 31 and 32 (Fig. 1) having hollow bosses 33 and 34 respectively for the passage of the shaft '21. These bosses at their inner ends engage the ends of the roll or drum 24 forming abutments for the latter which constrain the roll or drum to partake of the longitudinal reciprocating movement of the carriage.

Referring to Fig.2, the lower member of the carriage is provided with a rack bar 85 which meshes with a pinion 3 6 secured to the upper end of a vertical shaft 37 mounted memes V :bearings 38'- and 39: 'ada-pted to. permit a slight oscillatory movement of the shaft. A'

V mangle gear .40 is secured 'to the :lower' .end

' of theishaft'37, andsthis gearis'provided with a. series of pins P (Fig. 6;) engaging a toothed pinion 41 securedto the lower end of a shaft 42- ournaled .in suitable bearings car niedby the-machine frame. A beveled gear 43 '(Fig. 1) is secured to'the upper end; of theshaft 42 andmeshes-with.agear-ll on a horizontal shaft 45 which extends into .the

gear box 25.where itcarries apinion 46;

This pinion meshes with a change gear 47 (:Fig. 4) mounted uponan ustable bracket and thisgear 47 mesheswith the gear 26.

Referring toF igs. 1 and 5, the end members 31 and 32 of the carriage are furnished idler! pulleys 54- and which are. secured respectively'to the opposite ends of a tension spring 55. This spring, acting through the connections.described, tends to: swing the arms downwardly in a counterclockwise direction: as viewed in Fig. 5,-itbeing noted that by the use of 'a single spring a substan- 'tially equal force will always be applied to the two arms. It is also tobe noted that the relative arrangement of the pin 50 and the fulcrum or pivot 49 is suchthat whenthe arm swings upwardly, the force of the spring 1s applied-with a decreasing moment'arm or leverage.

Each of the arms 50is provided with a boss58for the reception of a. trunnion device which, in its preferred form, comprises a short shaft 59 arrangedato slide axially and also to rotatein a bore in the boss 58. This shaft carries a head member 60, preferably in theform of a disk of substantial diameter,

mounted upon the shaft 59 with interposed anti-friction bearings 61, so that the head may turn: freelywith reference tothe shaft 59.. Preferably thisdisk 60 is furnished,near; its outer edge,--withan annular axially ex-i tending flange 62, and with a radial marginal flange68. The shaft 59 is provided withan actuating. arm or handle 64 which projects out. through a cam slot 65v in the bearing 58,

the slot comprising a portion which lies in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis.

of the shaft so that when the handle 64: is disposed inthis part of the slot the'shaft 59 is held. against axial: movement;

The trunnion devices are-adapted to support between them a large. spool',.for example a dresserspool, having afhollow rigidlbarrel 66, which may, if desired, be of perforated metal, and having heads 6'1 fixedly secured to each endof the barrel. The machine is designed to accommodate spools having heads at least-as largeas thediameter of the'completed textile ma-ssf The heads :60 of 'ther trunnion devices are of a diameter "to permit the'flanges-GQ to fit snugly wvithin the' hollow" barrel-,withthe flanges 68 engaging the outer ends of the spool. Sincethe method of winding here employed results in the formation of a dense self-sustaining package, the spool may have arigid barrel of fixed -length with its heads fixedin position, it being. unneces-' sary to compress the package axially during pressure. dyeing. In the operationof the machine the slivers or strands S coming from any suitable source scribedpthr ough the back and, front draft pass through thegpoteyes 9, as above 'de- 7 rolls, and across the fallersifi so that the fibers forming the strand emergefrom the front rolls 5 in substantially 'parallelrelati'on.

The groups of sliversnow pass through the respective trumpet guldes ,and the carriage.

30 being in motion, the cord'19 causes these guides to oscillate on their own axes, thus rounding and's'moothing the sliver passing through them. The reciprocating motion of the carriage causes the'drum Q lto reciprocate relative to the guides and, it. being assumed that a spool has been mounted upon, the

trunnions, the spool also participatesrinnthis reciprocating movement.

The ends-of the strands delivered from the trumpet guides are secured to the spool barrel in any usual way, and as the drum 24' revolves itcauses the. spool also 'to revolve, the spool barrel resting withsubstantial pressure 7 against'thesurface of'the drum, this-pressure beingdue. in part tojthe weight of the spool andits-supports,.but particularly to the, ac-

tion of the spring 55. -Thechangegear 27; is-so "chosen' that the "surface speed of they drum -66-arid thus the surface. speed ofthe,

spool .barrel or the winding mass thereon,

bears such relation to the speed of delivery ofthe strand from the rolls 5 as to place the winding strand under a predetermineduand I substantial tension. In dealing with wavy or curly fibers such asirwool tops,it is prefeiu able to employ such. a tension as to straighten the fibers and hold themstraight while they are being wound upon thespool. 1 .The changegear 47 in the gear box is also selected to pro vide a rapid reciprocation ofthe' drum: with respect to the strand; delivery guides. such; as to produce a cross-wind, usually of approxi-i mately 30 angle, although this angle-maybe variedin accordance witlithe material being'woun'd.

It will be noted the strand with its fibers substantially parallel Whichisdelivered by the rolls 5} is by the mechanism above described. Woundqvit-hout; having any twistimparted thereto so as to build up upon the spool a cross-wound package. By reason of the compacting action of the trumpet guides, which by their oscillation smooth, round, and compress the sliver, and by arranging the delivery end of the trumpet guides at a dis tance from the nip of the winding elements which is less than the normal fiber length, it is possible to wind the untwisted fiber in highly compressed condition so that a very hard and tight wound package results. By using a plurality of delivery trumpets it is unnecessary to use an excessive length of traverse such aswould be the case in order that they reinforce one another as they do in a twisted strand, and thus it is possible to 7 wind them under high tension.

By windin g under high tension and by applying the proper force for pressing the winding mass against the driving drum, it is possible to build up upon the hollow core or dresser spool barrel a cylindrical package of very substantial length, for example forty inches, and of a hard, dense but porous and uniform structure whose constituent convolutions are laid up under such tension and under such compression that each convolution tends to maintain the position in which it was first laid and thus when the package is removed and placed on end, for example to facilitate pressure dyeing, bleaching or the like,the wet material sustains itself upon the spool barrel and does-not slump down so as to leave a part of the barrel exposed.

Although this package is of very dense,

hard character due to the tension and compression under which it is wound, it may nevertheless be wound at lngh speed, and by the provision of the trunnion devices above described the completed package may readily be removed from the machine and a fresh spool substituted with a minimum amount of for supporting a spool having a rigid barrel and fixed heads, and means for rotatingthe spool whereby to wind the sliver delivered from the gilling means directly upon the spool without twist.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising means for gilling sliver to bring its constituent fibers into substantially parallel relation, and means for cross-winding the gilled sliver directly upon a spool under such tension and compression as to form a hard, dense, self sustaining package.

3. Apparatus of-the class described comprising in combination with means for gilling a fibrous strand, means for compacting the strand delivered from the gilling means, and means for winding the strand with a crosswind upon a rigid core, while still compacted, under such tension as to form a dense selfsustaining package.

4:. Apparatus of the class described comprising in combination means for gilling sliver, means for'supporting and rotating a dresser spool having a rigid barrel and fixed heads, and means for delivering the sliver from the gilling means under tension and without twist to be wound upon the spool.

5. Apparatus ofthe class described comprising in combination with means for gilling a fibrous strand, means for supporting and rotating a spool upon which to wind the strand, and traverse guide means adapted to compact the untwisted'sliver received from the gill and to deliver it to the spool in compact form. I

6. Apparatus of the class described comprising means for supporting a spool, a drive roll, means for delivering untwisted textile strand at a predetermined linear speed, means for traversing the strand to produce a crosswind, means for turning the drive roll at such a speed relative to the rate of strand deliveryas to keep the strand under a predetermined tension while winding it upon the spool, and means for maintaining a substantially uniform pressure between the building yarn mass on the spool'and the drive roll throughout the formation of the package, the parts being so constructed and arranged as to build upon the spool a substantially cylindrical, dense but porous, package of substantially uniform texture and of self-sustaining character.

7. Apparatus for use in winding untwisted textile strand to form an elongate cross- .wound self-sustaining package comprising a strand delivery guide, a frame reciprocable relatively to the. guide, means for reciprocating the frame, a drive roll movable bodily with the frame, means for rotating the drive roll, and means carried by the frame for supporting a spool in driving relation to the drive roll.

8. Apparatus of the class described for use in winding untwisted textile strandto form an elongate, cross-wound self-sustaining package comprising a strand delivery guide, a frame reciprocable relatively to the guide,

Y the drive'roll', one at least ofsaid trunnions,

' strand to form an elongate cross-wound; g self-sustaining: package comprlsing a strand means for reciprocating'the frame, "adrive roll associated wlth the frame to moveax ially ,with;the latter,*rnean's for rotatingthe drive roll, and trunnion devices carriedtby the frame for supportingaa spool'in' driving relation to the drive roll, said tru'nnions beingrelatively movable to permit a spool to be inserted between them;

9. Apparatus for use in w'lnding textile strand to form an elongate, cross-wound;

- self sustaining-package, saidapparatus com prising a strand delivery: guide, aframe re= ciprocab'le relatively to the guide, reciprocating the frame, adrive roll associate ed with'theframe to move axiallywiththe frame; and trunnions carried by the frame for'supporting a: core in driving relation; to

comprising an axially movable support, and

means: for moving said support to permit a coreto be introduced between the trunni'ons or to bewithdrawntherefrom.

10. -Apparatus for use in winding textile V delivery guide, a drive roll, a reciprocating frame, andtrunnions'c'arried by the'frame for supporting 'a spool in driving relation to c the drive roll,"eacl1 trunnion comprising a normally fixed part, and a freely rotatable partengageable with the spool. y

ill-Apparatus for use in windingtextile "strand to form an elongate, cross-wound package, said apparatus comprising-a strand delivery guide, a driverol-l', means for rotating' the roll, a reciprocating-frame, means'for relativelyreciprocating the frameand guide, and trunnions carried by theframe'for supporting a spool in driving relation to the drive Ibllz, each of said trunnionscomprising;

anormally fixed support and a freely" rotating head :carried I by the support, the head having an annular; flange" adapte dtto; fit againstan inner surface of thespoolbarrel,

y anew-ra e engageable'with an endsurface of the spool. V V I 12: Apparatus for use in winding textile strandiuponja'rigidcoreto form :a cross wound, self=sustaining package: said apparatus comprising a drive roll, means for turn- 3- ing'the roll, and means forsupporting a'core in Jdrivingrelation't0 rthe'roll and for main taining a substantially uniform'pressure' be tween the winding mass on the core andthe surface of the roll irrespective of the di-' ameter of the winding mass. V

'1'3. Apparatus for use 1n windingteitile strand-upon: a rigid core to form a cross wound", selfs'uStaining package,said appara;

tus comprising-a drive roll, movable means forsupporting a spool in drivingirelationito the driveroll, andfmeans for exerting" force onsaid supporting means such as. to. main tam a substantially-'unlform pressure he i tween the windingxmass' on the.- spool and the:

means for surfaceof the driveroll from the beginning to the completion of thepackage.

14. Apparatus for: use 1, win

ding textile strand'upon a'rigidspool toform acrosswound, self sustaining package, said appa-' 'ratus: comprising a drive ,roll," means forturningthe 'iroll, a pair of supporting armsl provided'with means for' rotatablysupporting; a spool in driving relation to the drive roll, and means for exerting force tending to swingsaldiarms n such a way-as toca'usej thev spool"; to press against the surface olflthe roll, saidforce-exerting means acting? with'a progressively varying effective effort where by to maintain a substantially constant pres? sure between'the winding mass .on' thetspooland the surface ofthe drive rollzregardless of the sizeor weighto'fthe-package;

r 15. Apparatus for use fin winding-textile strand'uponairigid core tofor'm a cross wound self su'staining package, said app-aratils comprisingi'a drive roll, means for turn ing. the "roll, a "pair of supportingarms. provided with meansfor rotatablysupporting: a core in-driving relation to theipackage; said armsbeing soai'ranged as to rise as the di-' ,ameter of the'winding mass on the core in creases, and :force applyinglmeans tending to move the'arms downwardly, said force;ap-- c c p'lyingrmeans actingthrough a progressively decreasingilever arm as the supporting arms rise whereby to maintaina" substantially con stant pressure between the winding" mass on the core and the drive roll'throughout'the" building'ofithe package."

' 16; Apparatus for use in winding textile the} o0reinfdriving relation to the drive roll, and sprlngmeansconnected toeafch armat;

a; point suchthatas the arm moves in re-I spouse :to increase the diameter of the wind ing mass "on the core,- the effective leverage.

through which the spring meansfacts upon the" sup pdrtiilgf arm 1 correspondingly j deses-LI .9. Q; o t a v 17 i App aratus "for winding untwisted teii? tilestrandto'form' an elongate, self-sustains c rqss b ir c age 1@r ie f -r tatin'g' drivero'll, means forsupporting core indriving' relation to the drive roll, a tubular tan l e yigm vi a; ra d a e. 19 uh .d mef r a e'i mpr s e mnir s ine thr ugh-i m a fo .Pro-

c duoing. a; relative tra tverse motion'between the guide and-core, and means for oscillating the 5 guide: about its own "axisito smooth and round the strand,;said 5 delivery-guide, extendingto afjpoint cl'osel-yf adjacent tov the} nip? of the drive roll whereby to permit winding the. strand under high tension. 7 V

18. Apparatus for winding untwisted textile strand to form an elongate, self-sustaining mass comprising a rotating drive roll, means for supporting a spool barrel in drivingrelation to the drive roll, a tubular strand delivery guide having a strand passage of such size and contour as to compress the strand passing through it, means for producing a relative traverse of the core and guide, and means for oscillating the guide about its own axis in timed relation to the traverse motion, said guide terminating at a distance from the nip of the drive roll substantially less than the normal length of the fiber composing the strand.

19. Apparatus for winding textile strand to form an elongate, self-sustaining, crosswound package, said apparatus comprising a rotating drive roll, means for supporting a spool barrel in driving relation to the drive roll, a plurality of tubular strand delivery guides, each adapted to turn on its own axis, means for producing a traverse movement between the spool barrel and guide whereby simultaneously to wind strands delivered by the several guides, each with a cross-wind upon adjacent portions of the barrel, and means for oscillating each guide about its own axis, each guide terminating close to the nip of the drive roll whereby to maintain its control of the strand substantially to the instant of winding. i

20. Apparatus for winding untwisted textile strandto form an elongate, self-sustaining, cross-wound package, said apparatus comprising a rotating drive roll, means for supporting a spool barrel in driving relation 7 pressthe strand.

to the drive roll, a plurality of strand delivery guides spaced longitudinally of the core, means for supplying a strand to each guide, and means for producing a relative traverse of the core and guides whereby to wind the several strands with a cross-wind upon ad jacent parts of the core, each guide having a passage of a size and shape such as to com- 21. Apparatus for use in preparing unspun textile strand, comprising means for laying the constituent fibers of the strand in substantially parallel relation, and means for winding the strand under tension upon'a strand whereby to form a dense, self-sustaining, elongate cross-wound package. I i

22. Apparatus for use in preparing unspun textile strand, said apparatus comprising means for disposing the constituentfibers of the strand insubstantially parallel relation, and means for compacting" the strand and for winding the strand under tension,

without substantially deranging its constituent fibers, upon a rigid spool to form a hollow package of dense but substantially unicharacter.

form and porous texture and self-sustaining 23. Apparatus for use in preparing unspun textile strand, said apparatus comprising means for bringing the constituent fibers of the strand into-substantially parallel relation, means for winding the strand under tension and without twist or substantial derangement of its parallel fibers upon a perforated spool of fixed length, and means for compressing the winding mass during winding, whereby to form a self-sustaining package which will not slump longitudinally when the package is placed on end and wet.

24. Apparatus for preparing unspun textile strand comprising means for winding the strand upon a spool to form a porous, substantially' uniform, elongate package of selfsustaining character, and means for compacting the strand and for'tensioning the strand during winding to such a degree as to remove any normal waviness of its constituent fibers.

25. Apparatus for preparing unspun textile strand comprising means for delivering the strand at a predetermined rate, means for drawing the strand, means for bringing the constituent fibers of the strand into substantially parallel relation, means for winding the strand without substantial derangement of its parallel fibers upon a perforated spool of fixedtlength to form an elongate, selfsustaining package, and means for tensioning the strand and for compressing the package during windmg.

'26. Apparatus for use in the preparation of unspun Wool tops comprising fiber having a normal tendency to curl, said apparatus comprising 'means for tensioning the fiber sufiiciently substantially to straighten it, and means forwinding it upon a rigid spool, while still under such tension and without imparting substantial twist thereto, so as to form an elongate, self-sustaining, substantially cylindrical package capable of standing on endiin wetcondition without'slumping endwise.

A :f 27'. Apparatus for use in the preparation unspun wool tops comprising fiber having a'normal tendency to curl, said apparatus comprising means for delivering the fiber in the form of an untwisted sliver at a predetermined linear speed, means for supporting a spool, means for turning the core at such a surface speed as to wind the sliver thereon with a uniform predetermined tension such as to straighten the fiber but without imparting twist thereto, and means for causing the sliver to be laid on the spool with a cross-wind to form a self-sustaining porous package of substantially uniform density.

28. Apparatus for preparing textile strand comprising means for gilling the strand to lay its constituent fibers substantially par allel, means for supporting a hollow, cylindrical core of large diameter, means for compacting the strand, means for rotating the core to wind the strand thereon under a predetermined tension, and means for subjecting the winding mass to radial compression of substantially uniform amount throughout the winding operation.

29. Apparatus for use in winding textile strand. comprising a relatively stationary strand guide, a reciprocating frame, a drive roll and spool supporting means movingwith 7 gear and pinion for reciprocating the frame.

. 30. Apparatus for use in winding textile strand comprising a relatively stationary strand guide, a reciprocating frame, a drive roll and core supporting means moving with the frame relatively to the guide, means for delivering strand at a predetermined linear speed to the guide, and means driven in timed relation to the strand delivery means for reciprocating. the frame, said reciprocating means comprising a mangle-gearand pinion.

31. Apparatusfor winding textile strand comprising a strand delivery guide, a horizontally reciprocating frame, a rack on the frame, a pinion engaging the rack, a substantiallyvertical shaft carrying the pinion, a mangle-gear engaging a pinion at the-lower part of the shaft for turning the shaft alternately in opposite directions whereby tore ciprocate the frame, and means carried by the frame for supporting a rotary core upon which the strand from the guide is wound to form a package. 7

32. Apparatus for winding textile strand comprising a rotary drive shaft, a drive roll splined on the shaft, a reciprocating frame provided with abutments engaging the 0pposite ends of the drive roll, means carried by the frame for supporting a spool, means for reciprocating the frame, a stranddelivery guide fixed relatively to the reciprocat ing movement "of the frame but rotatable on its own axis, a flexible actuating element connected at opposite ends to the frame and embracing the guide whereby, as the frame reciprocates, to rotate the guide, and means for rotating the spool carried by the frame whereby to wind the strand upon the spool to forma package.

upon the strand during winding, guide means for the strand, and means for relatively reciprocating the guide means and the core in such a manner as to lay the strand in the form of a cross-wound, dense but porous selfsustaining package upon the'core. f 1

34. Apparatus of the class described comprising means for gillingtextile. sliver 'to bring its fibers into substantially parallel relation, and means for winding the sliver upon a spool'to form a'dense self-sustannng package capable of standingon end inv wet condition without slumping endwise of the spool.

7 35. Apparatus of the class described com prising means for disposingthe constituent fibers of a textile sliver in substantially parallel relation, and means for windingthe sliver upon a'rigid core under tension to form a dense package of fixed length capable of standing on end in wet condition without slumping endwise of the core;

' 36. Apparatus of the class described oom prising means for delivering unspun textile sliver at a predetermined'linear speed, and means for winding the sliver under tension with a cross-wind upon a spool having'a bar rd and fixed heads to form a self-sustaining package of fixed length capable ofstanding, on end when in wet condition without slump ing endwise of the spool.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this I I 6th day of February, 1930. v I EDWARD J. ABBOTT;

33. Apparatus-for preparing unspun' textile strand comprising spaced pairs of drawing rolls, means for driving the two sets of rolls at different surface speeds whereby to draw the strand passing from one to the other, gilling means interposed betweenthe sets of rolls, said gilling means being arstrand in substantially ranged to lay the constituent fibers of the parallel relation, means for supporting a rotating core upon which to wind the unspun strand without derangementof its parallel fibers, a driving roll for rotating the core and the package thereon at such a speed as to maintain a pre determined substantially uniform tension no s- 

